Gisele Bundchen and Dr. Aurore; Home Birth- Water Birth for Healthy Babies

Well, in the tradition of giving celebrities either their props or admonishments-
We have in the spot light-super model Gisele Bundchen. What did she do? She had a power birth-at home in her bathtub, just like me!  I was very surprised and it was refreshing to read about this.  I am so glad when I hear that celebrities who could have the most fake and apathetic existence they could dream of-and just schedule a c-section a month before so they don't get stretch marks, drug themselves away and hire other people to be parents-choose something different. Birth, what could be more important, more reality driven and more "whole-istic"?  As you know from my book and my blogs about birth-that health begins in the womb and a connected non-drugged, non-hypnotic contactful birth is the most important entrance into the world and is the first and number one contributer to a strong constitution and strong health. 

As part of my own birth stories- I had two amazing and wonderful homebirths- one on a bean bag and the other in my bathtub- they were the most incredible and life changing experiences of my life-I will cherish forever.  The last birth I had with my third son, was even more wonderful because my other two children who were four and five at the time help to deliver him and was apart of it. I hope you enjoy the magical pictures that I shared with you above...
Congrats to you Gisele, not only are you beautiful but smart too : )Read about it here:
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/gisele-i-gave-birth-in-the-bathtub/34867

If you like this blog read my book "Beyond Natural Cures" available at amazon and beyondnaturalmedicine.com

Whole Lotta Love Kapha Cake: Happy Valentines Day From Aurore

Whole Lotta Love Cake- and it really is,


Because it is still kapha season- we make this non-traditional pumpkin-molasses cake.

I usually don't add icing to the cakes-but the kids were feeling icing deprived. Most of the time, I make up plain whip cream and add it to the top of the cake when I serve it. I am contemplating writing a cookbook sometime next year after I am finished promoting my book "Beyond Natural Cures" - this will definitely be apart of it. Here is the recipe for those who need it now : )

All Ingredients- farm fresh, organic and homemade....the sugar value is slightly sweet

1.5 cups white bread flour

1 cup freshly ground red winter wheat, barley and millet mix

1 Tsp baking powder

3/4 Tsp baking soda

1/2 cp mashed pumpkin

1/4 cp coconut oil

1/4 cp softened butter

1/4 cp black strap molasses

2 eggs

1 tsp orange peel or orange water

3/4 cup of yogurt, or buttermilk or sour milk

3/4 Cup sucanat sugar

Kapha spice churna:

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp of cardamom

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp clove

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Combine dry ingredients-

Add everything else, except eggs-

Beat on medium until combined-then beat on high for 2 minutes

Add eggs and beat two minutes more.

Pour into greased pan bake at 350 for 30 minutes-

Enjoy- and Happy Valentines Day : )

If you enjoy this blog check out Dr. Aurore's book "Beyond Natural Cures" available through Amazon.com, Lulu and beyondnaturalmedicine.com.

C-Section: Kidney Damage, Liver Damage and Candida Infection

I am starting a series of blogs on women's health.  One cannot talk about women's health without touching on C-section-one of the biggest assaults on the female body today.  Dr. James DeMeo notes in his book "Saharasia" that c-section, circumcision and breast augmentation are the three sadistic/masochistic modern medical drives.  Comparing these things to genital self-mutilation and the result of mass societal apathy- social "numbness."  C-section "cuts" the life giving womb, circumcision "cuts" the life giving penis and the breast augmentation "cuts" the life-giving breast.  Whats the difference?

Well, breast augmentation for increasing breast size and circumcision are purely aesthetic and by choice.  Although, a baby has no choice so it is left to the sadist drives of the caregivers.  C-section however, is very much half and half, or as you will see in the research below as much as 77 out of 100.  Because women have been taught they "can't" birth or they "shouldn't birth" and are suffering from severe neurotic pelvic anxiety and blocking-many women that try to birth can't and therefore become unwitting candidates for having the baby cut out of the womb rather than birthed through it. Whether or not a woman is comfortable with her birth choice or non-choice is not as significant as the danger that c-section presents to herself and her newborn baby.

The Physical and the Emotional
New studies have confirmed, to the detriment of the wealthy surgeons and OBs-that c-section mortality rates have increased in mothers from resultive infections. The ICEA has compiled an excellent and shocking fact sheet on c-section here: http://www.childbirth.org/section/CSFact.html.  One thing that was interesting was this piece of research: Up to 77% of women for whom the indication for cesarean delivery was a non-progressive labor (sometimes diagnosed as cephalopelvic disproportion or CPD).  This indicates theoretically that non-progressive labor is strongly psycho-somatic, counting at least 60-77% of the women who non-progress as having a neurotic-emotional pelvic block.  One could assume at least 5-10% had a pelvic deformity which kept them from progress.

More C-Section Woes...
When I was in school I had to read alot of Andrew Weil books, I am not a huge fan of him but he did come forward with some very enlightening research and truths on surgery.  He takes a long hard look at surgery and explains, surgery is a cause of kidney and liver damage and yes, c-section is a part of that surgery practice.  How so?  Let me explain, in order to do surgery, the surgeon loads the body up with very harsh and dangerous anti-biotics.  Anti-biotics that damage liver and kidney and upset the entire intestinal balance.  Mix this with the strong drugs for anesthesia and epidural which numbs the body through the spine and piercing the dura.  If one looks at all of the scary and potentially dangerous side-effects from using an epidural-one can also attribute increased c-section to this as well. Here is a comprehensive epidural fact sheet:
http://www.healing-arts.org/mehlmadrona/mmepidural.htm#medical_risks_epidurals_punctured


My Own Research
Two years ago a nervous mother brought her son to me for candida infection and a skull that was presenting craniosyntosis. The woman had two sons delivered by c-sections.  I had to refer her out to a doctor of osteopathy that I work along with and use thoughtful education regarding the yeast.  I explained to the mother that the massive doses of broad spectrum anti-biotics she received and that her baby continued to receive through the breast milk was very much apart of the core of his disorder.  I told her this, in light of the fact she disclosed she was using acuncture to get pregant again.  She also asked me about how she could forcefully have a daughter, as part of my book "Beyond Natural Cures" I am very much against gender selection and birthday selection-which is taking the baby's birthday early through inducement and not waiting for the baby to be born on its own.  More than anything, I could see this woman had alot of anxiety, she also confided in me that her own mother had disowned her and that she was very much alone-having no friends, only her husband.

At her next appointment it was clear that her husband was very much a passive feminine and that she played the male role. I attempted to explain the importance of detoxing and clearing out the latent broad spectrum anti-biotics from the kidney and liver but she explained that she was already using homeopathy (which was obviously misused because it wasn't working-see my blog on the dangers and problems with homeopathy). Her husband simply smiled and nodded his head to whatever was said. 

In the end, the mother ignored my guidance and advice-to my knowledge, however, she did go the DO that I recommended for her son's craniosyntosis.  She delivered another son by c-section nine months later.

Avoiding C-Section
Well, for me, I only knew of one way to make sure I avoided c-section and that was getting a mid-wife and birthing my children at home. My first son was born at the hospital is the one that used to be autistic and is the subject matter of my book.  I came very close to having a c-section with him as no one in my birth support team believed I could do it-including me.  If you are considering birth-do look into the tremendous side-effects of ultra-sound, c-section and drugs-you at least deserve the right to make an informed and responsible consent.  For more information on the dangers of ultrasound-read my book "Beyond Natural Cures"- visit the websites above and read my mid-wife Aviva Romm's book "The Natural Pregnancy Book." An excellent resource for every pregnant woman.

If you like this blog please check out my book "Beyond Natural Cures" and my website beyondnaturalmedicine.com

Autism Case Studies: More Than Just Autism

Keeping along the lines of my natural autism program.  I bring you the case of a 40 year old woman with a ten year old autistic child.  I was told on the phone by the woman that her child had been diagnosed as autistic and that she was looking to heal him as he had already made great strides on the gluten free diet.  Upon seeing the child- I could not fathom what medical doctor would have given him an autism diagnosis.  This child could not speak or communicate-could barely walk, his hands turned in-he had limited use of his hands.  At the first appointment the mother admitted that the speech problem is the result of vocal chords that were damaged in birth.  In his birth, she did not know her water had broke and went an entire week without liquid in the womb-thus he was born with damaged vocal chords and will never be able to speak.

I explained to the mother that his situation was quite severe and that she should go to another medical doctor and have him tested again, as to me the child appeared to be severely mentally retarded and not at all within the autism spectrum.  With this she was argumentative and defensive-it was clear that autism diagnosis provided her with a glimmer of hope.

During our third consultation she admitted three things:

1. She had been on three different anti-psychotics and anti-depressants for over 15 years.
2. Her and her sister had been ritually sexually abused in the Jehovah Witness organization in their childhood.
3. Her sister also had an autistic son.

With this information- I felt we could go no farther, although I was compassionate towards the child-I could not help him due to the severity of his disorder and the severe mental and emotional block the Mother had towards her son and herself.  I recommended orgonomy treatment for the mother and the mother take the child to a medical doctor at UofM.  The mother left.

A week later I received an angry email from her-explaining that my son could not had been healed from autism and that holding your child is wrong and against the law...
This was obviously a reaction formation to the feelings of shame and blame that she incurred as a result of the sexual abuse.  I recently learned the child is now institutionalized and won't eat.  This is a very sad circumstance indeed-but one that is not for me to convince or take on-the seeds are laid, the mother needs to open up her heart and mind.  In this case, I have no doubt that the sexual abuse along with the rigid religious upbringing of the mother was holding the psychological aspect of the child's disease prisoner (also evident with the sister).  Clearly the fear of "a healthy strong male" laid dorment in the background.

If you like this blog read Dr. Aurore's book "Beyond Natural Cures"

When Natural Healing is UN-Natural: Case Study and Examples of Chronic Constitution Vs. Acute Symptoms

Like most physical/psychological disease, such as hormone disorders as I talked about in my previous blog, they can be catagorized into two categories: as a -rhea, meaning flow or discharge or as an -osis, indicating an abnormal state, increase, and formation. The body is either hot or cold, anabolic or catabolic, or in a state of stasis or action. 
-itis which is the process of inflammation can be present in either catagory and is an indication that the body is indeed alive and attempting to heal itself.

The psycho-somatic component of any disorder would be similar to this: A compulsive woman, very rigid and restricted, never lets her guard down and keeps herself in a cold, disconnected state-suffering physically from hypermenorrhea which is excess menstrual flow, leukorrhea which is excess discharge or even irritable bowel syndrome: chronic diarrhea. In this case you have the constitution which maybe compulsive and cold, ayurvedically a vata-and with that the symptom of a "hot" disorder where the body/mind is attempting to release and "express" somewhere in the body, usually where there is a weakness. This is indeed an example of the body trying to heal itself. However, unless there is a true body mind balance- there will not be a cure, all though an improvement can be seen with repressive tools such as drugs, herbs and self-help.

As I discuss in my book "Beyond Natural Cures" many self-help measures that people employ serve the hope that one can control, repress and 'get rid' of emotion and expressing.  For instance one can meditate "I am nothing, I feel nothing, I want nothing"
One may succeed in lowering their blood pressure and hypnotizing the superficial layers of the consciousness-but the source is a smoldering fire awaiting to be reckoned with.  It will be reckoned with again in the form of disease such as MS, cancer or arthritis.

In this case we can see that natural healing, can be "unnatural" but not normal and not in keeping with the true natural/normal expression within the body/mind.

If you like this blog-read Dr. Aurore's book "Beyond Natural Cures" available through her website.

Hormone Disorders: Healing PMS, Infertility and Menopause Disorders

As a two time homebirther, I understand womens health and I am dedicated to helping women balance their hormones, prepare their bodies for birth and support themselves through menopause.  I was very blessed and fortunate to have Aviva Romm for my midwife with my second child.  This was 10 months of learning about herbs (a type of one on one education that far exceeds what I learned in the Clayton Naturopathy program), 10 months of learning to trust myself and 10 months of learning to trust other women.  I really believe that I am only who I am today because of my relationship with Aviva and this is why I have dedicated my book to her.  I truly birthed myself in a multi-faceted way.


When I work with women now, overwhelmingly I see hormone problems.  Is this any surprise, as we are a society of meat eaters who consume thousands of pounds of hormone, sulfite, pesticide laden beef and pork and a society of vegans who consume thousands of pounds of endocrine disrupting, estrogen laden soy.  Besides this, we are all unified in our exposure to hormone scrambling plastics, styrofoams and millions of tiny birthcontrol pills in our water system (see my book "Beyond Natural Cures" on the epidemic of Pharma Water).


So, when working with women, whether it is for help with becoming fertile, fighting PMS or supporting through menopause-the key is always balance.  Besides commencing a hormone detox I work along with the body stimulating the cycle.  Using the colors green, blue, and orange to stimulate the pineal, pituitary glands and thyroid; and red and scarlet for the liver and circulatory system in the womb-I gently awaken the bodies natural ability to heal. 


In order for the female cycle to be brought into balance one needs to take several factors into account:

• The need for hormone detox, ridding all of the excess hormones and estrogens from the liver and subsequently the blood stream. 
• The need for circulatory movement through the pelvis which I use craniosacral therapy, biotherapeutic yoga, chi-machine and the I-gallop.
• The realization that waking up the pelvis can and WILL bring up latent repressed emotions such as anger, rage, sadness and tears. 

Because of the strong and probable possibility of emotional release, one must make sure they are working with a qualified professional to be able to give emotional and psychological support.  With my own personal use of naturopathic psychotherapy, I utilize my own training from my Reichian program to help people release their emotions. For more serious psychological issues that become present such as severe depression and paranoia, I refer out to the licensed Reichian psychologist I work with. 


The moral of this hormone story is essentially this: One CANNOT balance the hormones and clear out the pelvis without adequately clearing out the emotional body first or along with.  Ironically, in orgonomy, the pelvis is the LAST segment to heal in treatment.  This is because it is very serious and one cannot under estimate the amount of emotional pain stored within.  In the case of endometriosis, where the tissue is literally being held and accumulated in and around the pelvis and not releasing into the menstrual cycle-one has years of "collection" that will not easily be worked through by a few doses of Vitex, false unicorn or dandelion.  We literally "hold" in our pelvis.


Unfortunately, Jungian and Freudian psychology is not enough psychologically either. As only orgonomy can move the emotions through and out of the body.  I myself, work along with the body, utilizing the rage and anger of PMS to help one get in touch with their true self.  I do not believe that PMS is the indication of a lunatic coming into ones body and then leaving after a few days and that women are victims there of.  I believe through my Reichian training, that the energy push has been building for the expression of the menses and it is the ego fighting the ego ideal and that the true feelings are "pushing through" and that the part of the ego that "binds the anxiety and rage" is not able to do its job. 


This is strongly evident in women who go through c-sections because their pelvis is unable to dilate and open and also in women who suffer from post-partum depression. Similarly, it can also be seen in women who experience the feeling of "terror" as they go through transition in birth, having the empending feeling that something terrible is going to happen.


The opening of the pelvis causes a psychosis, as the person has spent years successfully repressing, holding and blocking energy in the pelvis. When it does open or attempts to open, the person is not emotional equipped to withstand the energy that moves through.  Being flooded with lifelong fears, likened to opening pandoras box, the woman is not conscious of what and why she feels how she feels other than she feels panic, anxiety and even dangerous and psychotic.


More on my next blog: Case study and example of the incredible body/mind connection.
If you like this blog, please read Dr. Aurore's life changing book "Beyond Natural Cures"

When Holding Your Child Hurts: Case Study 2

Remaining on the subject of the importance of child/mother reattachment in healing, I offer another compelling case study.  A 34 year old mother of one five year old child suffering from autism, it is also discovered in the first appointment that the mother was taking anti-anxiety medication.  This case study has been blogged on before, however, today I would like to record it within the context of reattachment and the "Holding Time" technique.

Though I was able to physically cure the autism in only a few visits with color therapy and the removal of all electronic devices, the psychological aspects of the disease, which appear to be one and the same with the physical-continued to reappear every time a stride forward was made.  Therapy was literally one step forward and one step backwards.  The most striking change in the child was his countenance, no longer a confused autistic look-but a face of feeling and relief.  After having built up a trusting relationship with the mother and child, I confide in her the importance of reattaching with her child and working through her own anxiety.  I found out three pieces of the puzzle:

• Mother was not able to breastfeed because of anxiety
• Mother used the electronic device, ie; TV, computer, video games as a surrogate mother/as to avoid contact with the child
• Mother was not able to make eye contact with the child, although she insisted it was him and not her.

I let her borrow several books on early childhood in the Waldorf tradition.  I was impressed with her ability to read and comprehend the material.  By the sixth appointment-I made it clear to her that if she wants true healing for her son she will need to enter in, conquer her anxiety and reattach with her son.  I offer a referral for the Reichian psychologist and the "Holding Time" book.  At the next visit she confides that she would like to go off of her medication as it is giving her tumultuous side-effects such as shaking and sweating (not to mention contributing to her disassociative state with her child).  She also confided that she was working with a psychiatrist and that would suffice.  She wanted to go ahead with attempting to "Hold" her child.  I agreed to do a session with her so I can make suggestions and see exactly where the attachment disorder lies.

In the final color therapy session with the child, he exhibited at that time, no autistic symptoms to me or the father, only the mother.  She admits that it makes her feel guilty and inadequate.  When mother attempted to hold and look at her child-he held his breath, turned away from her and avoided eye contact.  His hands turned in, reflecting an inability to reach out to the mother.  This was followed by a whiny high voice-which at first was protesting weakly, but then went into the robotical stimming-talking as if he was on a TV show and was on a space ship similar to "Houston, we have a problem." 

I sat next to mother and child and explained to her she needed to hold him securely- however, she was unable to-she held him with two hands underneath his rib cage- which obviously made him feel insecure.  Then I told her she needed to talk to him and look into his eyes.  Surprisingly, he was attempting to make eye-contact with her, however she was avoiding eye contact and as she spoke she looked directly over his head, when she stopped speaking she came back and looked at him. Though I pointed this out, mother was unnable to look and speak at him at the same time.  Furthermore, there was a strong superficiality in her vocal tone and inflection.  It was obvious that the child interpreted these two factors as rejection, which in turn made him feel scared, lonely and inadequate.  The child started to cry, but was unable to express his feelings of hate or anger, developing a reaction formation instead by turning in his hands and stimming from TV shows.

I ended the session by explaining to the mother that she should not attempt this at home and that she needed much work herself, before she should attempt reattaching. I also didn't know if it was her anxiety with the child or the effect of the drug-which kept her from attaching.  She needed to see an orgone therapist and work through these issues.  She agreed with me but as I kept in contact with her over the next couple weeks, I could see she was "done" and had most probably gone back to relying on the electronic devices for parenting.  At Christmas time she sent a card with a picture of him, sadly, the autistic countenance had returned.

I can only hope that the taste of her sons health and wellness will be the catalyst for change- one day in her own life and his.  One may never fully comprehend the effects of anti-anxiety drugs on the parent/child relationship, which would likely cause a lethargic, numb-non-reactive parent-emotionally dead to the child.  This would in turn create an autistic parent to some degree.  Coincidentally the mother was trying the Sonrise technique before she came to me.  A technique which teaches parents to act numb, emotionless and autistic to their children.  This child was clearly longing and searching for humanity, closeness and love. However, it is clear that with or without the drug the attachment problem would be there regardless.